# Outbreak CH4

Author: Heliamphora
Tags: Bison, Cougar, Drama, Female, Horror, Male, No-Yiff, jackrabbit, plot, scene setting, zombies

The atmosphere was heavy that evening.&nbsp; It settled on their shoulders and rode them mercilessly.&nbsp; Their weariness displayed itself in their slack postures and dull eyes.  
  
Vicky had made her stance on the matter very clear.&nbsp; She said it had to be done, and that the cub had died long ago.&nbsp; Roy remained silent.&nbsp; Mike, not having his own room to sulk in, hovered near the door to Roy's until Roy nodded his consent.&nbsp;&nbsp; Mike slammed the door behind him. The frame shook with the force of his hurt pride.  
  
Roy buried his face in his hands and sighed.&nbsp; His shoulders began to shake.&nbsp; Vicky placed her hand on his upper arm.  
  
"He'll get over it, okay?&nbsp; It's just harder for some people to adjust to changes, and there have been some massive ones in that past year."  
  
Roy snorted.&nbsp; "You don't know Mike.&nbsp; Trust me.&nbsp; His opinions don't change."  
  
"Do you honestly know that?&nbsp; I mean, has he had to adjust to anything big before?"  
  
The bison hesitated.&nbsp; "Not really."  
  
"To me, that sounds like I got you on a technicality.&nbsp; Right?"

&nbsp; "Yeah.&nbsp; Let's let it go," he said.&nbsp; He glanced around the cabin nervously.&nbsp; His eyes flickered to the bedroom door and he cleared his throat.  
  
"No, I think this is important!"  
  
"Really, it's not, don't worry about it."  
  
"I'll guess then!" Vicky said, clasping her knees excitedly.&nbsp; "Okay, how about--"  
  
"Vicky,"&nbsp; Roy hissed, "Stop it."  
  
"Alright, fine, you act like you're in love with Mike or something," Vicky said with exaggerated exasperation.&nbsp; She grinned at him.&nbsp; He stared at her, slack-jawed.&nbsp; Her grin faded.  
  
"Serio--" she began, cut off by Roy's broad hand on her muzzle.&nbsp; Her brows furrowed and she slapped him, sparing him none of her fury.&nbsp; He reached for his cheek and rubbed it as they glared at each other for a moment.  
  
"Look," Roy began, "He doesn't know.&nbsp; Okay?&nbsp; I'd like to keep it that way."  
  
"He hasn't ever guessed?"  
  
"Why would he?&nbsp; He never had any reason to wonder.&nbsp; I mean, sure, it's not like I went out with many women, but it's not like he did either."  
  
Vicky snorted.&nbsp; Roy shot her a pleading look.&nbsp; She sighed.  
  

&nbsp; "Well, why not tell him?&nbsp; It might at least calm him down, I'm pretty sure he thinks you and me are hooking up."  
  
"As much as I'd love to correct that idea, I can't.&nbsp; He just wouldn't appreciate the idea.&nbsp; He's never been the most laid-back guy.&nbsp; We get along because I know when I should talk and when I should stay on the downlow, and this is a downlow situation."  
  
"I get it.&nbsp; You should at least go talk to him though.&nbsp; About today.&nbsp; At least he won't be worrying about us, and trust me, he is right now.&nbsp; I can read men like you wouldn't believe."  
  
"At least now I've got backup.&nbsp; Alright, I'm out," Roy said, rising from the couch.&nbsp; He disappeared into the bedroom and Vicky sat perfectly still, her long ears perked towards the door.&nbsp; When she heard the rise and fall of muffled voices she relaxed.&nbsp; Her eyes scanned the cabin.  
  
She stood up and walked over to the kitchen.&nbsp; Disregarding the fridge, she stepped over to the pantry and flung open the doors.&nbsp; She scanned the shelves and nodded, closing them.&nbsp; The cupboards were inspected to the same standards, and then under the sink, the closet, the livingroom shelves.&nbsp; One ear never lost its focus on the bedroom door.  
  

&nbsp; Vicky delicately picked up and inspected Roy's shotgun, which he had left leaning against the door.&nbsp; She had discovered shells in the kitchen drawers.&nbsp; She scanned the room and then huffed in exasperation.&nbsp; Mike had taken his pistol with him.&nbsp;  
  
The jackrabbit had started to get up and continue searching when she picked up on soft padding approaching the bedroom door.&nbsp; She scrambled to get back on the couch.&nbsp; She leaned back and examined her nails.  
  
Mike walked over and collapsed beside her on the couch.  
  
"So," he said.  
  
"So?"  
  
"So, I'm sorry.&nbsp; I was being a little bitch today and I need to man up and move the fuck on.&nbsp; I acted like a dick and I hope you forgive me, or whatever," Mike responded.&nbsp; He dragged out the words in a flippant way, but there was real feeling in the sound of them.  
  
"It's alright, don't worry about it.&nbsp; Times are tough."  
  
"Yeah.&nbsp; Did Roy talk about me?"  
  
Vicky's eyes shot towards him and looked him up and down.&nbsp; She examined him coldly and then her eyes softened, glancing towards her hands.&nbsp; She rubbed her fingers softly and sighed.  
  

&nbsp; "Well...why do you want to know?"  
  
"He doesn't do that.&nbsp; Like, talk to me about shit.&nbsp; I wondered if it was you."  
  
"Yeah, it was."  
  
"Well, what did he say about me?"  
  
"Why do you want to know?" she asked again, a little more tentatively.&nbsp; Mike scowled.  
  
"Look, I know you and him are all...buddy-buddy and shit, but I've known him for a damn long time and I know there's shit he doesn't tell me, and I want to know it.&nbsp; I don't like people hiding shit from me!"  
  
"Alright, alright!&nbsp; Just calm down, okay?&nbsp; Keep your voice down, and promise not to tell him I said anything to you.&nbsp; Okay?"  
  
"Fine," Mike said.&nbsp; He leaned back and waved his hand towards her.&nbsp; "Go on?"  
  
"Roy, he...oh, crap.&nbsp; I don't know how to say this?"  
  
"Whatever it is I've probably figured it out by now.&nbsp; I got my ideas.&nbsp; Just spit it out, alright?"  
  
"Roy has, well, he has kind of a thing for you," she said, the words coming out in a rush.&nbsp; Mike stared blankly.  
  
"Like, he has it in for me or something?&nbsp; He's never acted like he does."  
  

&nbsp; "No, no--not a bad thing.&nbsp; A good thing.&nbsp; Really, really good."  
  
Comprehension dawned on Mike's face.&nbsp; His eyebrows shot up and then down again, his eyes widened and then narrowed, and his slightly open muzzle closed into a sneer.  
  
"No fuckin' wonder I need to sleep out here, huh?&nbsp; Bet he couldn't keep his fucking hands off me if I was sleeping in the same room.&nbsp; I gotta say, that at least is cool, that he knows to stay the fuck away from me.&nbsp; But maybe I didn't set those boundaries clear enough."  
  
"Calm down!&nbsp; He hasn't done anything about it for all this time because he respects you, right?&nbsp; Because he cares!" Vicky hastily added.&nbsp; Mike spat on the floor.  
  
"He does, yeah, that's the fucking problem.&nbsp; It's fucked up and since shit's gone downhill I can't very well kick his ass out or leave, but I can give him a piece of my mind, and I will do it right now," Mike snarled.&nbsp; He placed his palms on the couch and shoved off into his best tough-guy swagger.&nbsp; Vicky's eyes fixated on the kitchen.&nbsp; As soon as Mike was down the hall she leaped up and jogged to the kitchen.&nbsp; She pulled a trash bag out of the cabinets and began stuffing it with food from the pantry.&nbsp;  
  

&nbsp; Angry voices bellowed from the bedroom.&nbsp; There was a crash and some muffled swearing.&nbsp; Steps thundered towards the bedroom door.&nbsp; Vicky grabbed the bag and ran to the livingroom.&nbsp; She met Roy at the shotgun.&nbsp; He grabbed it and cocked the barrel.  
  
"I should have fucking known.&nbsp; I don't know what made me think I could trust you for even a second.&nbsp; Get out."  
  
"Can I at least--"  
  
"Get,"&nbsp; Roy growled, flipping the gun around so the stock jabbed her in the chest, "Out."  
  
She had her hand on the doorknob when the howling started.&nbsp; It seemed to surround the cabin, a gasping and jagged mimicry of a hunting cry.&nbsp; Roy and Vicky's eyes met.&nbsp; Mike stumbled out from the bedroom nursing a split lip and rapidly swelling black eye.&nbsp; They turned to look at him.&nbsp; He pulled his pistol out of his pocket and managed a ghastly grin.  
  
"We'll deal with this shit later, bitch," Roy spat, "There are more guns in the bedroom closet.&nbsp; I will search your pockets when we've killed these guys.&nbsp; Get going."  
  
She was in no position to hesitate.

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/XekWJYpe

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